The 2015 Adobe Design Achievement Awards. See how far you go.

Archive for April, 2015

Adobe Design Achievement Awards (ADAA) 2013 finalist Robert Long illustrates our world in subtle and unexpected ways. Robert’s illustrations blend an authentic natural style with an enlarged hyper-realism, sharing the creatures of our world from his unique perspective.

The ADAA judges were impressed by Robert’s illustrations of insects in 2013, and he continues to impress the critics.

Robert recently won the Edible Community’s Eddy Award for Critics Choice Best Imagery of the Baja, Arizona honey bee. Scientists and farmers in Baja have been studying the population decline of bees and butterflies, and working towards solutions for pollination to help preserve the insects, and our food sources.

Robert commented, “I aim to inspire curiosity in the intricacies of the natural world, and by extension, promote nature conservation.”

Robert added that his ADAA experience has extended his creative network around the globe.

Robert’s most recent illustration commissions have been for magazines; including the April cover for Arizona Alumni Magazine and the Edible Baja Arizona Magazine. Robert has also illustrated for Biosphere2 and aquaculture, with work for a science center next on the horizon.

Eddy Award Honeybee illustration on exhibit at the Nave Gallery Annex in Boston until May 10 by Robert Long

“When I’m not peering through a magnifying glass, I stay inspired by visiting international natural history museums and aquaria. A natural curiosity pushes me along, often to places I didn’t expect to be.”

Adobe congratulates Robert for his continued success, and applauds his support for nature conservation through the beauty of his illustrations. We wish all of the students in the ADAA unexpected inspiration and curiosity while building their creative careers.

Adobe Design Achievement Awards (ADAA) 2014 Grand Prize Winner Nicolas Ménard has been busy these past few months building his career, freelancing, and finding time to create personal projects.

Nicolas was honored by the ADAA judges in 2014 with a Grand Prize in Traditional Media for his illustrated book Elsewhere and his animation short Somewhere won the category of Animation. Both projects were inspired by his early experience of leaving his home in Montreal to study at the Royal College of Art in London. Nicolas is now represented by Nexus Productions in London.

Elsewhere book excerpt by Nicolas Ménard.

Experimental personal projects have helped Nicolas remain inspired across both his personal and professional work. Nicolas creates indie animated shorts and maintains an online portfolio, in addition to his professional projects. “I’m freelancing in London as an illustrator and animation director, and I work on animation commercials. Between jobs, I keep screen printing and working on personal short films and other projects. I figured out that this seems like the best way to stay inspired.”

How has Nicolas juggled the demands of work and personal projects since graduation? “That’s been the hardest part to figure out after studies: How do I find a balance between personal work and commercial work? And how will that make me happy? I’ve found that having gaps between jobs allows me time for research and experimentation. This way, I can ensure that my artistic production keeps flourishing.”

We wish Nicolas, and all of the students participating in the ADAA community, to enjoy building and pursuing creative careers while staying inspired along the way. View work by Nicolas Ménard in the ADAA Gallery.

Somewhere animation excerpt, Nicolas Ménard

The Adobe Design Achievement Awards 2015 contest early submission session is open until April 17, 2015. Final deadline is June 19, 2015 at 5pm PST.